Learn French

Bodily Functions and Other Gross Words You Don’t Learn in French Class

| O.

 

It’s an impolite topic, but it’s still necessary. Even now, after almost seven years of learning/speaking French, this particular set of vocabulary often escapes me…because what professor is going to dedicate an entire unit to body sounds? Who’s really going to pull out a dictionary to find out how to tell someone they’re gross for farting?

So I’ll excuse the grossness by saying that even if the subject is strange, it’s still important to know how to talk about it!

Continue reading →

Deconstruct a French Word: La Vache

https://flic.kr/p/bcE9tx
| O.

la vache | “lah vash” | int. | damn; shit

Literally, la vache is a cow. Said after stubbing one’s toe, falling in love with an outfit that costs more than one month’s rent or after hearing some pretty gross story from a friend, though, turns it into something of a “swear word.” Use it in place of putain or merde, essentially, to convey a similar feeling with a slightly softer tone.

Ex., Ton mec a dépensé 600 euros sur ses baskets? La vache! Il est con!

Featured image of the Dictionnaire Larousse from Camilla Hoel on flickr.

Deconstruct a French Word: archi

https://flic.kr/p/bcE9tx
| O.

archi | “ahr-shee” | adv. | super; very; “hella”

Add archi before any adjective to add emphasis and, basically, sound like the cool middle schoolers I taught a year ago in Alfortville.

Ex., Le nouveau kebab près de chez moi…c’est archi-bon. Je l’ai mangé trois fois cette semaine!

C’est archi-bon, la nouvelle saison d’Orange is the New Black

While it’s normally found in front of the word “bon,” archi can precede adjective you want, really. It only makes it that much more intense.

Mon emploi de temps est archi-fou ce semestre. 20 heures de cours par semaine, plus 20 heures de travail et du baby-sitting à côté…je ne me repose jamais.

Featured image of the Dictionnaire Larousse from Camilla Hoel on flickr.